Abstract

Using data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, we identify a population of infrared carbon stars with
J-Ks ≥ 2 in the Milky Way. These stars are shown to trace the stellar bar previously identified in IR and optical S
surveys. The properties of C stars strongly suggest that they are of intermediate age. We conclude that the bar
is likely to have formed more recently than 3 Gyr ago and must be younger than 6 Gyr. Implications and further
tests of this conclusion are briefly discussed